I need some serious guidance because there’s no consistency across the internet when trying to troubleshoot this issue. I bought the 7” display to hook up to my RPi, and I’m not getting any reaction from the monitor. I’ve flashed a fresh Raspbian to my microSD, made sure all the ribbon cables and GPIO pins are seated properly, and even ran updates through terminal/raspi-config, and I still can’t get this thing to turn on. I simply want to use the Pi/7” screen for RetroPie. Do I need to install specific drivers? What else can I do to troubleshoot here? This is my second monitor I’ve bought now and I’m getting a little tired of failed attempts. Any insight here would be greatly appreciated.

The official touchsvcreen, if connected correctly, should just work. The display is autodetected, so should start up with the same rainbox screen as you see on HDMI output, then boot to either console or desktop.

So if you are not getting the rainbox screen, something is either badly connected or broken. I pressume you have the correct power leads from the Pi to the display PCB installed, and the ribbon cable is inserted correctly at both ends?

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The official touchsvcreen, if connected correctly, should just work. The display is autodetected, so should start up with the same rainbox screen as you see on HDMI output, then boot to either console or desktop.

So if you are not getting the rainbox screen, something is either badly connected or broken. I pressume you have the correct power leads from the Pi to the display PCB installed, and the ribbon cable is inserted correctly at both ends?

+1 However there are two ways to power the display and a connected Pi - either sharing the Pi's power connection via the GPIO pins or, as I did here: http://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_pi ... splay.html power the display and sharing it's power by a short, thick USB to uUSB (possibly right-angled) cable. Which method are you using? What power supply?
Trev.

I’ve tried every power combination possible that was suggested in previous threads. I’m not even getting the backlight screen to come on for the display. Is there any other route i can take here or should I just refund and get a new one?

Most recently I had the GPIO pins connected and powered each the Pi and the monitor, as well as a USB splitter. I’ve used two different power supplies that came with my RPi kits. They power the Pi just fine no matter which method I use, but the display never responds

Which Pi are you using (i.e.3B+, )? Please post pictures showing the screen connection, in Rpi, as well as on the display.

+1

BranLoux896 wrote:
Most recently I had the GPIO pins connected and powered each the Pi and the monitor, as well as a USB splitter. I’ve used two different power supplies that came with my RPi kits. They power the Pi just fine no matter which method I use, but the display never responds

What do you mean by "a USB splitter"? (eg. passive cable or a USB hub perhaps?). "Kit power supplies" are not necessarily the same as "Official" ones - so what "Kit" and what does their spec./label state? The shared connection between the Pi and display board should either be GPIO pin-to-pin (Pi to display board) or via uUSB in to the display board and USB (out) from the board to uUSB on the Pi. Also was the display supplied with the display (interface) board already connected to the display (like mine)?
Trev.

I'm using a RPi 3 B+ for my setup. I have two of them and I tested both with the monitor and it still doesn't respond. Can't really take pictures of anything now because I'm at work. I'm 100% certain that everything is hooked up right as far as ribbon cables, power, and GPIO pins.

The display is a newer one so it did come with the board attached to the monitor. I've tried to unscrew the binding screws and check the ribbon connection running from the monitor to the board as well, but to no avail.

The power supply is a 2.5amp that came with the "Vilros" Raspberry Pi kit that is available through Amazon.

Would the version of Raspbian I have on my RPi be a factor in all of this? I only downloaded Raspbian Lite and then upgraded through terminal.

To add, I’ve also tried to do USB > uUSB but that does not work either.

...
The power supply is a 2.5amp that came with the "Vilros" Raspberry Pi kit that is available through Amazon.
...

O.K. so (after checking the Amazon images) possibly not one of the (Official) Stonetronics devices**. A P3B+ will be more demanding than a P3A+ ... so, any sign of a "low-voltage" warning ie. flashing red PoWeR led (or even a brief appearance of a "lightning bolt" on a black screen ...)?
Trev.
** http://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_pi ... _Models.29

I can do that in a little bit once im at my computer again. Let me ask a baseline question though. Whether the monitor is being read by the Pi or not, shouldnt the backlight on the screen come on regardless?

I can do that in a little bit once im at my computer again. Let me ask a baseline question though. Whether the monitor is being read by the Pi or not, shouldnt the backlight on the screen come on regardless?

I'm not sure about that, in that, for the screen I have**, AFAICT the backlight is not (easily?) visible "on its own" (ie. it's obviously on when there's text or graphics displayed but, otherwise, may be off) AIUI (but I may be wrong) for the original display backlight control (by software) was somewhat optional in the sense that it is (was) controlled by an I2C link which had to be connected to be used. IIRC for the new version (which I have), with control board pre-installed, that I2C link has been connected. (I'll fire mine up and check with i2cdetect and edit this post if I can confirm that)
Trev.
** http://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_pi ... splay.html
Edit. Nothing shows up with i2cdetect -y 1 so, may be, I didn't RC

I actually tried again before I left the house and the green indicator light DID come on, but no reaction from the monitor. I strongly believe it has something to do with the DSI connection. I know a lot of people have said that the connectors have been installed backwards on the boards when being built. I really wanna post pics. Ill do it in a few mins when i get back home.

I actually tried again before I left the house and the green indicator light DID come on, but no reaction from the monitor. I strongly believe it has something to do with the DSI connection. I know a lot of people have said that the connectors have been installed backwards on the boards when being built. I really wanna post pics. Ill do it in a few mins when i get back home.

The flat ribbon connectors have always been a "little tricky":
1) the locking clip has to be "lifted"/prised up open first - with care.
2) the flat cable has to be inserted the right way around
3) finally then clamped in place by pushing the locking clip back down.
I've only had to do this myself for a couple of cameras & the display and always have to check & double check with any 'photos to be sure!
(Hopefully mine, linked to previously, may be of some help)
Trev.

Alright everyone, here at the long-awaited pictures a few of you have been requesting. Anyone see any red-flags here? Just to clarify because I may have misspoke previously, the green indicator light does come on with this current configuration, but no display. Also, since the charge is going through the monitor with this power setup and not the Pi, we can rule out that it's a power issue.

The DSI connector of your Raspberry is mounted incorrect! There was a batch with this failure. Go back to your supplier as he will exchange it under warranty.
This shows what it schould look like (correct orientation):https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/ra ... el-b-plus/

Get rid of those jumper cables and either use a Y-USB cable or two independant USB power supplies. Rpi 3B+ needs a 2.5A PSU --> if you want to do it like this (jumper wires for 5V) than make sure to power the Pi via USB!

Get rid of those jumper cables and either use a Y-USB cable or two independant USB power supplies. Rpi 3B+ needs a 2.5A PSU --> if you want to do it like this (jumper wires for 5V) than make sure to power the Pi via USB!

Why? That method of powering the screen works well.

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I KNEW it was that friggin DSI connector. Actually have a buddy who just bought a Pi kit for his house, so he’s gonna use HDMI output. Gonna see if his DSI is lined correctly and if so im swappin em lol. If its not thennnnn ill return it.

I KNEW it was that friggin DSI connector. Actually have a buddy who just bought a Pi kit for his house, so he’s gonna use HDMI output. Gonna see if his DSI is lined correctly and if so im swappin em lol. If its not thennnnn ill return it.

22 posts later.. I just wanted to update everyone that my setup is up, running and fully functional now. My buddy bought a Pi kit and asked me to set it up for him. His Pi came with the DSI connector seated correctly. So, I swapped mine with his since he’s using strictly HDMI output. Thank you to everyone that took the time to help with this, much appreciated!